Christ the Lord is risen again!

Christ the Lord is risen again! Christ has broken ev'ry chain!

Author: Michael Weisse (1531); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1858, alt.)
Published in 211 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ

Christ the Lord Is Risen Again

Instrumental

Christ Is Risen

Choral

Christ, Our Lord, Is Risen Again

Full Text

Christ the Lord is risen again!
Christ has broken ev'ry chain!
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
Singing evermore on high,
Hallelujah.

He who gave for us His life,
Who for us endured the strife,
Is our Paschal Lamb to-day!
We too sing for joy, and say:
Hallelujah.

He who bore all pain and loss
Comfortless upon the cross,
Lives in glory now on high,
Pleads for us and hears our cry:
Hallelujah.

He whose path no records tell,
Who descended into hell,
Who the strong man arm'd hath bound,
Now in highest heaven is crown'd:
Hallelujah.

He who slumber'd in the grave
Is exalted now to save;
Now through Christendom it rings
That the Lamb is King of kings!
Hallelujah.

Now He bids us tell abroad
How the lost may be restored,
How the penitent forgiven,
How we too may enter heaven.
Hallelujah.

Thou our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, to-day Thy people feed;
Take our sins and guilt away,
That we all may sing for aye,
Hallelujah.

The Chorale Book for England, 1863

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Author: Michael Weisse

Michael Weiss was born at Neisse, in Silesia. He was a pastor among the Bohemian Brethren, and a contemporary with Luther. His hymns have received commendation. He died in 1540. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth is "the most gifted translator of any foreign sacred lyrics into our tongue, after Dr. Neale and John Wesley; and in practical services rendered, taking quality with quantity, the first of those who have laboured upon German hymns. Our knowledge of them is due to her more largely than to any or all other translators; and by her two series of Lyra Germanica, her Chorale Book, and her Christian Singers of Germany, she has laid all English-speaking Christians under lasting obligation." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Related Texts

First Line: Christ the Lord is risen again! Christ has broken ev'ry chain!
Title: Christ the Lord is risen again!
German Title: Christus ist erstanden
Author: Michael Weisse (1531)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1858, alt.)
Meter: 7.7.7.7.4
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Alleluia, alleluia
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Notes

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25
st. 4 = John 3:5

As a basis for his text "Christus ist erstanden," Michael Weisse (b. Neisse, Silesia, Poland, c. 1480; d. Landskron, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, 1534) turned to the same earlier sources that Martin Luther had turned to just a few years earlier (PHH 398). Weisse also reworked the older chorale "Christ ist erstanden," at that time a popular "leise"–a song that included a "Kyrie eleison" refrain shortened to "kirleis" or "leis." The original "Christ is erstanden" was developed from the Latin sequence “Victimae Paschali laudes” (c. 1100). Weisse's chorale was published in the first German-language Bohemian hymnal Ein Neugesängbuchlein (1531), which he edited. The hymnal contained 155 hymns, with some original texts written by Weisse and others translated by him from Bohemian. Many of Weisse's hymn texts also found their way into later German hymnals.

Weisse was a monk in Breslau when he came in contact with the writings of Martin Luther. After leaving the Roman Catholic Church, he joined the Bohemian Brethren, spiritual descendants of John Hus, who were later called Moravians. A leader among the Bohemian Brethren, Weisse established a number of their German-speaking communities and was sent to consult with Luther on issues of theology.

Catherine Winkworth (PHH 194) translated Weisse's text, which was published in her Lyra Germanica (1858). Originally entitled "Song of Triumph," the translation began with the words, "Christ the Lord is risen again." The Psalter Hymnal includes Winkworth's stanzas 1, 3, 7, and 6 (in that order).

Stanzas 1 and 2 focus on the Christ, who suffered death on the cross but who is now exalted in glory as our mediator. Stanza 3 is a prayer especially suited for celebration of Lord's Supper. Stanza 4 encourages us to preach the good news to extend Christ's kingdom. Each stanza concludes with an "alleluia." The final refrain rings in even more “alleluias” and includes the cosmic testimony “the Lamb is King of kings!”

Liturgical Use:
Easter; Ascension; Lord's Supper.

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Tune

WIRTEMBURG


CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN

CHRIST IST ERSTANDEN is derived from the twelfth-century chant melody for "Victimae Paschali laudes" (which also produced CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN, 398). The tune was first published in Joseph Klug's (PHH 126) Geistliche Lieder (1533). This ancient tune, originally in Dorian mode, consists of sever…

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All tunes published with 'Christ the Lord is risen again!'^ top

Timeline

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Media

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #407
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Instances

Instances (14)TextImageAudioScore
Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal #155Text
Church Family Worship #258
Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #258
Common Praise #217Text
Complete Anglican Hymns Old & New #105
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #344Text
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #184TextImage
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard Edition #79
Hymns Old and New: New Anglican #80
Presbyterian Hymnal #112TextImage
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #407TextImageAudioScore
Rejoice in the Lord #323Text
Sing Glory: Hymns, Psalms and Songs for a New Century #400
Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II #365
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